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13 year old bulldog has alzheimers

robjacksrobjacks Member Posts: 749 ✭✭✭✭
edited July 2009 in General Discussion
The last weeks have been hell, i couldnt figure out what was going on with our dog , he started barking at weird things like walls,closets ,doors, and it just got worse from there.It got so bad we had to take him to the vet because all the craziness was gettting really scary.He has alzheimers???Never new of such a thing in animals, but when he started staying up all night barking in circles and forgetting how to go up the steps i new something was really wrong beyond my help.Every day it just continually gets worse, now he cant even reconize any of us,so he is very scared, im sure he feels lonley,my son is so close to this family pet i know this is going to kill him but its getting to the end, I know im being selfish , the vet advised me to put him to sleep for several reasons one being when animals become scared they can be aggressive,another being it has caused many health issues with his body shutting down, he has started bleeding from his insides and has became very swollen,and he cant even remember he is pottey trained, I just feel so terrible giving up on him, I pray everyday he will be better.Has any one lived this, please let me know...
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Comments

  • zipperzapzipperzap Member Posts: 25,057
    edited November -1
    Time to say your goodbyes. It's not humane to allow him to
    become more and more terrified. There IS no getting better,
    sadly.
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  • bgjohnbgjohn Member Posts: 2,275 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My bullgog died at age 12. She had a heart attack and died at the vets. I'm told that most bulldogs die at 10-11 years of age. Your dog has lived quite a bit longer than normal. Time to say goodbye.[:(]
    JM[:(]
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  • Horse Plains DrifterHorse Plains Drifter Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 40,207 ***** Forums Admin
    edited November -1
    Sorry to hear about your friend, but I agree with the others. Time to let the fella go to a better place.
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  • D.S.COLED.S.COLE Member Posts: 611 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Im so sorry to hear of your pets problems. Yes I went through the exact same thing with my on great pet.
    He went from being the smartest most dependable housedog to a total mess up, in a few months.
    Destroyed things in the house ,didnt care where he defecated.
    The Vet said they get hardening of the arteries in the brain just like people a lot of times.
    It is more likely to happen to a strong very masculine ,muscular male than a female.
    The vet knew in just a minute of looking at him what it was. There is no cure and having him put down is the only thing to do. He is miserable and so are you .
    I had mine 12 years and it was a sad day to lose him.
    I know it hurts but hold him in your arms as the Vet gives him the shot and let him go.
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  • hissinggoosehissinggoose Member Posts: 763 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My sympathies to you and your family. We have a little rat terrier just diagnosed with a terminal heart condition...he's only 9 mo's old. I agree, when a pet gets to that stage it is definitely the responsible thing to put him to sleep, even though it's hard.

    Prayers sent.
    Mike
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  • 11b6r11b6r Member Posts: 16,584 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My sympathies to you and your family- but we both know there is a deal between you and your bud- part of which is that when he needs help, you get him help. Part of that help is a clean ending. Don't mean to sound like Dr. Laura- but you know you need to go do the right thing. And no, it's not easy- but it is part of being the adult. Help your kids understand that. Have been there a time or two- and I am truly sorry for your loss.
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  • elect1mikeelect1mike Member Posts: 4,585 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My bulldog got hit by a car 1 and a half years ago man I miss him. I guess I am with the rest putting him down would be best even tho it will hurt you.
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  • ndbillyndbilly Member Posts: 1,573 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you've got a pure bred English Bulldog that's lived for 13 years you should call Guiness because that is truly the upper end of the longevity spectrum for that breed. You know what has to be done. Won't get easier tomorrow. Just went through it with our bulldog in February.
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  • JEPJEP Member Posts: 218 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sorry to hear about your pet. We put our 15 year old Cocker down about 10 years ago and we had a 5 year old Cocker die from kidney failure which we and the vet think was caused by Lyme disease from a tick bite. I took some friends of ours 12 year old dog into the vet to be put down because they could not bear to do it.It is never an easy thing to do as they become members of the family and dear companions. Our current Cocker is 6 years old and spoiled beyond belief. Once their quality of life gets to a certain point it is only fair to have them put down.
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  • mondmond Member Posts: 6,458
    edited November -1
    wow ,13yr old bulldog..now that must be a record.. never known one reach 6/7 yrs & be healthy, as a rule the most prone dog to illnesses,as it was only bred for bull baiting origonally, it lasted 18 mth if it was a good dogder!!( british bull dog that is)
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  • robjacksrobjacks Member Posts: 749 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes he is a pure breed english bulldog, and he has had a great life, he sure has had his odd sickness's though, they dont have anything normal.The vet is very good he has been taking care of him his entire life,i do believe he has lived so long from pure stubborness, he never gave up on anything even at his own exspense ,i will definetly have a life time of great memories.[:D]
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  • MosinNagantDiscipleMosinNagantDisciple Member Posts: 2,612
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by buschmaster
    Sorry, but I've been to dozens of vets and less than half are competent, 1 in 5 would I trust to make an accurate diagnosis on someting like that, and most of those would say "there's nothing we can do": maybe 1 in 20 can actually help you to beat this thing.

    I'm not saying your vet is incompetent, but I don't know that he's not. Did your vet consider medication (or not) for your dog's alzheimers? also, I don't think alzheimer's has anything to do with bleeding in other parts of the body.

    Check on the possibility that the neurological problems are a complication of whatever's causing the bleeding. Unfortunately, it may be too late. If you think that will give him a chance, do it today if not sooner.


    The dog is 13 YEARS OLD! I dont think vet competency has anything to do with this.

    A dog that old is bound to have problems - alzheimers, heart trouble, kidney failure, cancer, and whatnot. Suggesting that the vet is incompetent is deliberate ignorance of reality.
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  • Da-TankDa-Tank Member Posts: 3,718 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm real sorry for you, and you friend. Happened to me not so long ago.I got involved with a group called The French bull Dog rescue network. Now I've got 3 of them running under foot. I'm only a foster parent for a while, They pay any and all costs. There is a English Bull dog rescue on the net. You can help a friend in need.
    Also about 16 miles down the road from here is a english puppy farm. I've visited it. clean ,nice people and lovable dogs. $600 up
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  • BlckhrnBlckhrn Member Posts: 5,136
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Flying Clay Disk
    I'm sorry to hear about your friend. However, your vet is correct. Keeping him alive at this stage is probably more for your benefit than his.

    Equally, a scared dog can be a truly dangerous creature to those nearest to him. If he doesn't know who you are, and doesn't know commands, he's probably a time bomb waiting for a place to go off. Aside from the possible tragic results of him possibly attacking one of your family, imagine the liability if he gets out and attacks someone else.

    It's hard to put an old friend down, but think about things from his point of view. He's probably terrified, tortured and in pain every waking minute. Perhaps you should view it as doing what any good friend would do by making his pain and fear go away.

    Sorry, but I hope this helps.


    Sad to hear about your dog.

    I have to go along w/ this. People with alzheimer's can be unpredictable. One of the last things a dog will forget will be how to bite.
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  • JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I haven't been through Alzheimer's with a dog, but I have been through other problems with the same ending. I'm sorry to say no matter how long you put it off, it doesn't get any easier. Probably best to follow the Vet's advice. I really feel for you because I have an idea what you are about to go through.
    The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
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  • 7.62x397.62x39 Member Posts: 1,994 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sad[:(]
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  • Bolivers WifeBolivers Wife Member Posts: 1,972 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    sorry to heare about your friend...........I too agree with the others........[:(][:(][:(]
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  • gruntledgruntled Member Posts: 8,218 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    My dog (terrier) turned 16 last January. I keep wondering just how long can they last? The people at the dog pound talked my son into picking her. They said she had already been there longer than they were allowed to keep them & if we didn't take her they would have to put her down as soon as we left.
    When we got home the first thing my wife said was "That is the ugliest dog I have ever seen." (and she was just a few weeks old puppy at the time)My wife isn't a pet person but the mutt has gotten to her after all this time.
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  • gagirlgagirl Member Posts: 5,408
    edited November -1
    Sorry to hear about your buddy. I had one that went "nuts" within a period of a few months and had to put him down both for his own good and for everyone around him. I know it is hard to deal with and it will never get any easier, but you have to think not only on how hard it is on him but about how dangerous it is for anyone who is around him.
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  • HAND ME DOWN GUNSHAND ME DOWN GUNS Member Posts: 11 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    (\__/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    SORRY TO HERE ABOUT YOUR BULLY.
    PUT SOME PICS OF THESE WONDERFUL ENGISH DOGS UP HERE SO WE CAN ALL ENJOY THERE LITTLE FACES !!!!

    BULLDOGS RULE THE WORLD![:D][:p][B)]
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  • MarnerMarner Member Posts: 2,977
    edited November -1
    When I opened the thread and saw old Zipper there I thought ...what! really?

    Anyway it was nice to see his tag line again.

    A lot of others that haven't been here in a while.

    Ron
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  • tpacuriositytpacuriosity Member Posts: 707 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    very sorry to hear......I can think of a whole lot of people that I'd rather see go through that than my dog. As most have said though, at this point it is no life for him anyway. sparing him the fear and confusion that he now is no doubt experiencing, is the only humane thing to do. Bringing home another one in a couple of weeks will help your son(and family)to remember happier days. best of luck to you.
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